The start of 2025 brought with it a refreshed auditorium with improvements that include a new elevator from the lobby to the second floor, restroom expansion, accessibility features, plaster repair/new paint, new stage rigging, flooring and curtain, and much more.
Now a week of concerts is planned in April to introduce the 86-year-old building to students who have never been inside the auditorium and to reintroduce it to community members who are happy for its return.
Byrnes is named for James F. Byrnes, former S.C. governor and U.S. Secretary of State.
The start of 2025 brought with it a refreshed auditorium with improvements that include a new elevator from the lobby to the second floor, restroom expansion, accessibility features, plaster repair/new paint, new stage rigging, flooring and curtain, and much more.
Now a week of concerts is planned in April to introduce the 86-year-old building to students who have never been inside the auditorium and to reintroduce it to community members who are happy for its return.
Byrnes is named for James F. Byrnes, former S.C. governor and U.S. Secretary of State.
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Winthrop University’s Byrnes Auditorium is one of the first buildings visitors see when they enter the historic campus.
So when the building closed in 2018 for repairs, only to have a small roof fire and then a prolonged closing, its presence was greatly missed.
The start of 2025 brought with it a refreshed auditorium with improvements that include a new elevator from the lobby to the second floor, restroom expansion, accessibility features, plaster repair/new paint, new stage rigging, flooring and curtain, and much more.
Now a week of concerts is planned in April to introduce the 86-year-old building to students who have never been inside the auditorium and to reintroduce it to community members who are happy for its return. A website outlining the week and the building's storied history is now live.
“Our students are excited to be in Byrnes,” said Music Professor Lorrie Crochet, chair of the Department of Music. “The view is incredible from the stage to look out at the audience.” Music students and ensembles have been using other spaces across campus to practice and perform since Byrnes has been offline.
The musical programming includes:
Friday, April 4, 7:30 p.m., World-renowned Trumpeter Vince DiMartino with performances
by the Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble
DiMartino is one of the country’s most sought after trumpet performers and is equally
known as a jazz artist, having played lead and solo trumpet in the Lionel Hampton
Band and with the Chuck Mangione band. The night will also include performances by
the Wind Symphony, which consists of 35-45 of the finest wind and percussion players
at Winthrop, and the Jazz Ensemble, which consists of trumpets, trombones, saxophones
and a rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass and drums). The jazz ensemble plays a wide
range of jazz styles such as swing, traditional New Orleans, funk, fusion, Latin and
modern jazz.
Saturday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., Winthrop Chorale & Collegiate Choir Concert
The Chorale, the principal choir among the ensembles in the Department of Music, consists
of outstanding undergraduate and graduate students, more than half of whom are music
majors and minors. It is one of the oldest student organizations in Winthrop's history.
This particular performance will highlight the organ and an alumni choir. Both groups
are under the direction of Jeremy Mims, director of choral activities.
Sunday, April 6, 3 p.m., Carolinas Wind Orchestra & Alumni Band Concert Featuring
the D.B. Johnson Memorial Organ
The Carolinas Wind Orchestra, under the direction of Crochet, is an internationally
recognized group dedicated to the performance of advanced wind literature. The afternoon
performance also will include the first Alumni Band Concert which will give former
music students an opportunity to play in Byrnes. Both groups will perform Alfred Reed’s
Alleluia! Laudamus Te: A Celebration Hymn for Winds, Percussion, and Organ with accompaniment from the David Bancroft Johnson Memorial Organ. This will be the
first time audience members will have the chance to hear the majestic organ since
it was dismantled and professionally cleaned off site during the Byrnes renovation
project.
Wednesday, April 9, 7:30 p.m., Winthrop Symphony Orchestra Concert
*Finale event
The Winthrop Symphony Orchestra is comprised of string players (violin, viola, cello
or bass) and is open to all Winthrop students regardless of their major. The orchestra
is under the director of Professor of Music Elisa Koehler.
All events are free and open to the public. We do ask that you register in advance for each event. Check the parking information online as you plan your visit, due to many events scheduled during this week.
As one of the largest auditoriums in the Charlotte metropolitan area, Byrnes has so much character and history that set it apart from newer facilities, said Crochet. “The architecture is beautiful, and the renovations have highlighted the woodworking and painting to make it a bright, inviting place to perform,” she added.
About Byrnes Auditorium
Byrnes is named for James F. Byrnes, former S.C. governor and U.S. Secretary of State. While a U.S. senator, Byrnes arranged for Works Project Administration funds to be used with matching state funds to construct three campus buildings – the auditorium, Thurmond Building and Macfeat Nursery School, now the Macfeat House. Byrnes exemplifies the monumental architectural style prevalent in Depression-era public buildings.
About the D.B. Johnson Memorial Organ
The Aeolian-Skinner organ was installed at the peak of the company’s output in 1955.
The tonal designer, G. Donald Harrison, was a pioneer architect of the American classic
organ. There is a plaque with his signature on the organ, meaning that Harrison believed
this organ to be one of his most cherished installations. Because it has never been
altered from its original state, the organ in Byrnes has historical significance and
prominence as one of the most important organs in the United States.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
